EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: ZDRR11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure all patient protected health information (PHI) was kept protected, which resulted in the unauthorized access of the patient's confidential information (Patient 3). Patient 3's confidential information was facsimiled to an unintended recipient, a Home Health Agency (HHA), without the patient's authorization, on June 8, 2015. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 3's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On June 17, 2015, at 2 p.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On June 8, 2015, Patient 3's laboratory test results were facsimiled by the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).b. On June 9, 2015, a HHA contacted the Laboratory Department and the HHA stated they were in receipt of Patient 3's laboratory test results in error.c. The HHA agreed to destroy the document (Patient 3's laboratory test results).d. The CPT had facsimiled Patient 3's laboratory test results to the correct location as well as the unintended recipient, the HHA.The employees of the Home Health Agency had an opportunity to view Patient 3's PHI, which included name, date of birth, gender, medical record number, financial number, physician, and laboratory test results.Patient 3 was informed of the disclosure of his protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on June 17, 2015, to his last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on June 17, 2015, and a letter dated and mailed on June 17, 2015, of the unauthorized access of Patient 3's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised April 2, 2015, revealed, "... (facility name) will take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information ... Whenever possible, The Information Privacy Officer will contact the individual or organization to whom the information was inappropriately or unlawfully accessed, used or released and request that no further access, use or disclosure of the information is made and to return or destroy the information. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the Department of Public Health and report the breach within (15) fifteen business days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (15) fifteen business days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use or disclosure and the plan or step's taken to mitigate it. ..."

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 7LCZ11.01